Kemal Tambiev goes on hunger strike in SIZO March 21, 2020 08:24 Kemal Tambiev, accused of financing terrorism, has demanded to provide him with books, the Koran and create due conditions at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) cell, where he is kept.
Arrest of Akhmed Barakhoev extended March 20, 2020 23:54 In the Stavropol Territory, a court pronounced a decision to leave Akhmed Barakhoev, one of the leaders of the Ingush protests, in custody until April 11.
Azerbaijani leader accuses opposition of provocations in connection with coronavirus March 20, 2020 22:23 In connection with the threat of the coronavirus infection, members of the opposition are spreading panic among the population, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev states. He has called the opposition the "traitors." Leaders of the opposition parties state the Ilham Aliev's allegations are unfounded.
Azerbaijan celebrates Novruz amid restrictions March 20, 2020 18:02 For the first time in the post-Soviet history, Azerbaijan cancelled mass events and festivities on the occasion of the Novruz Bayrami holiday. The country is closed to tourists. In his holiday message, President Ilham Aliev did not rule out the possibility of introduction of a state of emergency because of the coronavirus infection.
Grozny woman publicly apologizes for her panic message about coronavirus March 20, 2020 17:41 On March 19, Zalina Djabaeva, a resident of Grozny, voiced a public apology on the air of the "Grozny" ChGTRK (State TV and Radio Company). The woman said her report about a hospital in the village of Sernovodskoye closed because of a case of the coronavirus infection was caused by her concern over her relatives' health.
Restrictions due to coronavirus threat introduced in mosques of Nalchik and Makhachkala March 20, 2020 14:49 Some believers in Nalchik and Makhachkala have refused to visit mosques amid the restrictions imposed due to the threat of coronavirus spread.
Analysts criticize restrictions on press freedom in Armenia ascribed to coronavirus March 20, 2020 14:18 The Armenian Police have warned three online editions for their posts about the spread of coronavirus in the world. The demand to restrict publications on this topic under the state of emergency is absurd and creates unnecessary problems in the information environment, the analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.
Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of 25 shelling attacks March 20, 2020 13:57 The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated that the positions of its army were shelled, including from sniper rifles.
NKR: tourism in disaster because of coronavirus March 20, 2020 12:26 The threat of a new infection has almost paralyzed the work of small businesses in the tourism sector of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), as the flow of applications for travels has abruptly stopped, local entrepreneurs have complained to the "Caucasian Knot".
Barakh Chemurziev and Musa Malsagov left under arrest March 20, 2020 12:11 The Yessentuki City Court has extended the custody of the Ingush activists, Barakh Chemurziev and Musa Malsagov, accused under the article of creating an extremist community, until April 11, 2020. Chemurziev needs medicines that are not available at the SIZO (pre-trial prison), where he is kept.
Activists link arrest of Azerbaijani poet with song about Bagirzade March 20, 2020 11:57 Elvin Muradov, a religious activist and a poet, has been arrested on charges of illegal arms dealing; his defence has appealed against the arrest. Activists believe that he is being persecuted for his poems and songs dedicated to Talekh Bagirzade, the leader of the "Muslim Unity" movement.
Analysts dispute on nature of rush demand in Chechnya March 20, 2020 11:44 Residents of Chechnya have succumbed to panic and began buying out foodstuffs, although it is now wiser to buy imported goods, Sergey Zhavoronkov, an economist, has stated. In her turn, Olga Kryshtanovskaya, a sociologist, believes that there is no real panic yet, and people are simply guided by their life experiences.
Chechen Muftiate refuses to impose restrictions in mosques because of coronavirus March 19, 2020 21:48 The Muftiate of Chechnya reports that it has been decided to hold collective Friday prayers in mosques as usual. Local residents supported the Muftiate's decision.
In Georgia, opposition calls on authorities to help people who lost jobs because of coronavirus March 19, 2020 21:36 At a meeting of the Georgian parliament, MPs voiced a proposal to review the state budget and allocate more than 15 million US dollars to 60,000 families who lost their incomes because of the spread of the coronavirus infection.
Circassian writer complains to PACE about amendment to Constitution of Russia March 19, 2020 18:08 The constitutional amendment on a state-forming nation proposed by Vladimir Putin is discriminatory in relation to other nations of Russia, claimed on March 18 Adel Bashkaui, a Circassian writer from Jordan. He requests the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to verify whether the constitutional amendment complies with Russia's obligations to the Council of Europe.
Nalchik resident sentenced to six years of imprisonment in case on aiding terrorists March 19, 2020 17:55 In Rostov-on-Don, a court recognized Aslan Sablirov, a resident of Nalchik, as an accomplice to terrorists and sentenced him to six years of imprisonment. The defendant pleaded guilty in part, the court reports today.
Azerbaijan reports sniper shelling attacks in conflict zone March 19, 2020 13:52 Within the last 24 hours, positions of Azerbaijani troops in the conflict zone were shelled for 24 times, including from sniper rifles, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed.
Residents of Chechnya complain about foodstuff price hiking due to panic demand March 19, 2020 13:31 The foodstuffs recommended by Ramzan Kadyrov in order to strengthen one's immunity and counter the spread of coronavirus are unavailable to many local residents because of high prices, the residents of Chechnya interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.
Participants of action in Stepanakert demand to investigate incident in Martuni March 19, 2020 11:04 Activists of the Artsakh Revolutionary Party (ARP) have blocked traffic along the main street of Stepanakert, demanding a meeting with the president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). The action ended with clashes between activists and law enforcers; one protester was hospitalized; and 13 others were detained for several hours.
After selling air tickets, travel agent from Stavropol accused of financing terrorism March 19, 2020 10:53 Lyudmila Baratova, a resident of the Stavropol Territory, sold air tickets from the city of Mineralnye Vody to Istanbul to the people, who subsequently moved to Syria and joined terrorists, investigators claim.